Okla-homey
6/26/2008, 06:44 AM
June 26, 1917: First U.S. troops arrive in France
91 years ago on this day during World War I, the first 14,000 U.S. infantry troops land in France at the port of Saint Nazaire. The landing site had been kept secret because of the menace of German submarines, but by the time the Americans had lined up to take their first salute on French soil, an enthusiastic crowd had gathered to welcome them.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/7342/wwovertherelouisfancherxl0.jpg
A US recruiting poster. c. 1917.
However, the "Doughboys," as the British referred to the green American troops, were untrained, ill-equipped, and far from ready for the difficulties of fighting along the Western Front.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3695/ww369pxhabww11918fm3.jpg
An American doughboy, circa 1918.
It should be noted, the US had not been attacked by the Germans or their allies. Nor had the Germans sponsored any anti-US conduct by surrogates. Indeed, the Imperial German navy's u-boats had sunk non-US ships with Americans aboard, but, they had not sunk any US flagged vessels.
We pretty much went in because it was "the right thing to do" under the circumstances and to prevent a dictatorial and militaristic government from gaining too much influence on the European continent. In short, to fight foreign "militarism" (evildoers?) and "to make the world safe for democracy."
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6305/wwposterusdestroythismaav4.jpg
The thing that sealed US involvment in WWI happened in January 1917. Britain's secret Royal Navy cryptanalytic group, Room 40, had broken the German diplomatic code. They intercepted a proposal from Berlin (the Zimmermann Telegram) to Mexico to join the war as Germany's ally against the United States, should the U.S. join.
The proposal suggested, if the U.S. were to enter the war, Mexico should declare war against the United States and enlist Japan as an ally. This would prevent the United States from joining the Allies and deploying troops to Europe, and would give Germany more time for their unrestricted submarine warfare program to strangle Britain's vital war supplies. In return, the Germans would promise Mexico support in reclaiming Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. This tore it, and anti-war resistance in Congress was overcome by vote of both houses.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3519/ww800pxusabryterdediplowi2.jpg
President Wilson before Congress, announcing the break in official relations with Germany on 3 February 1917
One of U.S. General John J. Pershing's first duties as commander of the American Expeditionary Force was to set up training camps in France and establish communication and supply networks.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6232/wwpershing2yl8.jpg
General John J Pershing. Known as "Blackjack" (not to his face of course) because as a young officer, he had commanded black troops of the 9th and 10th Cavalry, a/k/a "buffalo soldiers."
Four months later, on October 21, the first Americans entered combat when units from the U.S. Army's First Division (a/k/a "The Big Red One") were assigned to Allied trenches in the Luneville sector near Nancy, France.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/4880/wwpatchjz6.jpg
Shoulder patch of the 1 ID.
Each American unit was attached to a corresponding French unit. Two days later, Corporal Robert Bralet of the Sixth Artillery became the first U.S. soldier to fire a shot in the war when he discharged a French 75mm gun into a German trench a half mile away.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6553/wwm1905howitzerb26wtb3.jpg
US M1905 75mm howitzer. A knock-off of the French 75. The froggies made the best cannons for a very long time. Had to do with the fact Napolean was an artillery officer and knew a god gun when he saw one.
On November 2, Corporal James Gresham and privates Thomas Enright and Merle Hay of the 16th Infantry became the first American soldiers to die when Germans raided their trenches near Bathelemont, France.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6761/wwiwantyouforusarmyns2.jpg
Probably the most important US recruiting image of all time appeared in 1917.
After four years of bloody stalemate along the Western Front, the entrance of America's well-supplied forces into the conflict was a major turning point in the war. When the war finally ended on November 11, 1918, more than two million American soldiers had served on the battlefields of Western Europe, and more than 50,000 of these men had lost their lives.
91 years ago on this day during World War I, the first 14,000 U.S. infantry troops land in France at the port of Saint Nazaire. The landing site had been kept secret because of the menace of German submarines, but by the time the Americans had lined up to take their first salute on French soil, an enthusiastic crowd had gathered to welcome them.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/7342/wwovertherelouisfancherxl0.jpg
A US recruiting poster. c. 1917.
However, the "Doughboys," as the British referred to the green American troops, were untrained, ill-equipped, and far from ready for the difficulties of fighting along the Western Front.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3695/ww369pxhabww11918fm3.jpg
An American doughboy, circa 1918.
It should be noted, the US had not been attacked by the Germans or their allies. Nor had the Germans sponsored any anti-US conduct by surrogates. Indeed, the Imperial German navy's u-boats had sunk non-US ships with Americans aboard, but, they had not sunk any US flagged vessels.
We pretty much went in because it was "the right thing to do" under the circumstances and to prevent a dictatorial and militaristic government from gaining too much influence on the European continent. In short, to fight foreign "militarism" (evildoers?) and "to make the world safe for democracy."
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6305/wwposterusdestroythismaav4.jpg
The thing that sealed US involvment in WWI happened in January 1917. Britain's secret Royal Navy cryptanalytic group, Room 40, had broken the German diplomatic code. They intercepted a proposal from Berlin (the Zimmermann Telegram) to Mexico to join the war as Germany's ally against the United States, should the U.S. join.
The proposal suggested, if the U.S. were to enter the war, Mexico should declare war against the United States and enlist Japan as an ally. This would prevent the United States from joining the Allies and deploying troops to Europe, and would give Germany more time for their unrestricted submarine warfare program to strangle Britain's vital war supplies. In return, the Germans would promise Mexico support in reclaiming Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. This tore it, and anti-war resistance in Congress was overcome by vote of both houses.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3519/ww800pxusabryterdediplowi2.jpg
President Wilson before Congress, announcing the break in official relations with Germany on 3 February 1917
One of U.S. General John J. Pershing's first duties as commander of the American Expeditionary Force was to set up training camps in France and establish communication and supply networks.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6232/wwpershing2yl8.jpg
General John J Pershing. Known as "Blackjack" (not to his face of course) because as a young officer, he had commanded black troops of the 9th and 10th Cavalry, a/k/a "buffalo soldiers."
Four months later, on October 21, the first Americans entered combat when units from the U.S. Army's First Division (a/k/a "The Big Red One") were assigned to Allied trenches in the Luneville sector near Nancy, France.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/4880/wwpatchjz6.jpg
Shoulder patch of the 1 ID.
Each American unit was attached to a corresponding French unit. Two days later, Corporal Robert Bralet of the Sixth Artillery became the first U.S. soldier to fire a shot in the war when he discharged a French 75mm gun into a German trench a half mile away.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6553/wwm1905howitzerb26wtb3.jpg
US M1905 75mm howitzer. A knock-off of the French 75. The froggies made the best cannons for a very long time. Had to do with the fact Napolean was an artillery officer and knew a god gun when he saw one.
On November 2, Corporal James Gresham and privates Thomas Enright and Merle Hay of the 16th Infantry became the first American soldiers to die when Germans raided their trenches near Bathelemont, France.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6761/wwiwantyouforusarmyns2.jpg
Probably the most important US recruiting image of all time appeared in 1917.
After four years of bloody stalemate along the Western Front, the entrance of America's well-supplied forces into the conflict was a major turning point in the war. When the war finally ended on November 11, 1918, more than two million American soldiers had served on the battlefields of Western Europe, and more than 50,000 of these men had lost their lives.